It's the holiday season, so whoop-dee-do and hickory dock, we've been listening to Christmas records around the clock ...

Another year, another big festive batch, with some artists going the holiday route for the first time and others, like Brian Setzer and Aaron Neville, returning to the well.

Good news and bad news for our Jewish friends in the house. The bad news is, there's no new Hanukkah song from Adam Sandler. The good news, there's a whole Hanukkah pop record from the LeeVees, who aren't sure how to spell it either.

POP/JAZZ

THE BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA

"Dig That Crazy Christmas" (Surfdog)

On paper, you figure there's no way "Angels We Have Heard on High" is going to fly as mash-up of brass section, choir and the guitar rumblings of "Peggy Sue."

But that would underestimate the Brian Setzer Orchestra, which can work these little holiday miracles, and does on this quick follow-up to "Boogie Woogie Christmas." The BSO has established itself as one of the premier big bands of the day and it sounds great here whether it's chasing the rockabilly cat up front or finessing its way through an instrumental "My Favorite Things."

Setzer and company get the party started with a swinging "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" and toss off classics like "Jingle Bell Rock," "Let It Snow!" and a five-minute-plus "White Christmas" that moves from ballad to rocker.

Setzer throws in three originals, the best of which are "Hey Santa," a wicked Stray Cat Strut, and "Getting in the Mood (For Christmas)," a hard swinging tune that rides the riff of "In the Mood." "Santa Drives a Hot Rod" is a vamp that doesn't live up to its title.

Setzer shows off two different voices here, a rockabilly growl and more of a Tony Bennett croon. He goes with the latter on "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," a pretty closer with the BSO's Julie Reiten. (Scott Mervis)

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BRIAN WILSON

"What I Really Want For Christmas" (Arista)

It's been a while since Brian Wilson recorded the ultimate rock 'n' roll Christmas album with the Beach Boys. But as anyone who's followed Wilson's story would imagine, the man who gave the world "When I Grow Up to Be a Man" has yet to lose the childlike sense of wonder that made his first holiday record the classic it remains.

He revisits two gems from that earlier record here ("The Man With All The Toys" and "Little Saint Nick"), nails the essence of several yuletide staples and unveils at least one staple-in-the-making, the "Today"-esque title track. Despite the occasional "What were you thinking?" arrangement, "What I Really Want for Christmas" finds the legend and his awe-inspiring touring band living up to the promise of last year's "Smile." And that's saying a lot for a holiday record. (Ed Masley)

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DIANA KRALL

"Christmas Songs" (Verve)

You almost feel as if you have to dress up to listen to this one. Diana Krall and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra assemble for the upscale cocktail party selection of the year.

It's first-class all the way from the cool precision of the vocals to the finesse of every note the orchestra plays.

The cover has Krall, hair back, legs spread, in a come-hither pose, and that's the vocal delivery we get (slow and breathy) on the ballads, even "White Christmas." On the flip side, Krall and the orchestra are ready and able to swing gentle ("Sleigh Ride") and hard ("Let It Snow"). The only thing missing is a holiday duet with her hubby, Elvis Costello.

You can put this one on the shelf with the Sinatra, Connick and Streisand. (Scott Mervis)

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REV. HORTON HEAT

"We Three Kings" (Yep Roc)

You can file this one along with your Los Straitjackets and Brian Setzer holiday CDs.

The Reverend wraps up a rockabilly holiday set with lots of energy, reverb and twang, and as long as the band is really clicking behind him, all is bright. He comes out rocking on "Frosty the Snowman," puts plenty of giddy-up into an instrumental "Jingle Bells" and has a blast on Buck Owens' "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy."

It's when they slow down that things aren't so hot. The Reverend rules when he's revved up, but he's no Bing Crosby when it comes to "Silver Bells." In fact, some of these vocals are shaky enough to make you think he was hitting the eggnog in the studio. But, for the most part, you'll want to be part of the Reverend's choir. (Scott Mervis)

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MARAH

"A Christmas Kind of Town" (Yep Roc)

You won't find anyone having a better time on their holiday CD than this rootsy band from Philly that fashions the record as a holiday musical by The Christmas Players.

There's a rollicking feel to the collection of standards, originals and quick cute skits with the standard instrumentation supplemented by banjo, xylophone, mellotron, car horns and "singing into the dryer." Family members, including the little ones, pitch in on the vocals and general carrying-on.

The tone ranges from a totally campy "Let It Snow" and a hoedown on Buck Owens' "Christmas Time's A Coming" to a tender "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Good new originals are always hard to come by, but "Christmas in the Snow" sounds as if it came off the old Phil Spector girl-group collection. (Scott Mervis)

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VARIOUS ARTISTS

"Elton John's Christmas Party" (Universal)

You can pick up more than a spicy Christmas Blend at Starbucks during the holiday season. Elton is throwing a little party there on the CD rack, and his choices are divine, a mix of contemporary and old cool.

Over a generous 21 tracks, Elton reaches back for classics by the Ronettes ("Frosty the Snowman"), Chuck Berry ("Run Rudolph Run") and Otis Redding ("Merry Christmas Baby"); hits a middle period with The Eagles ("Please Come Home for Christmas"), The Band ("Christmas Must Be Tonight") and The Pretenders ("2000 Miles"); and brings us up to date with OutKast ("Playa's Ball"), Rufus Wainwright ("Spotlight on Christmas") and John Mayer, on a Christmas song that's called "St. Patrick's Day."

The Pet Shop Boys add a dose of synth-pop and cynicism on "It Doesn't Often Snow at Christmas" and Flaming Lips make a plea for peace on "A Change at Christmas (Say It Isn't So)." Elton caps it off with "Calling it Christmas," a soulful turn with Joss Stone.

It sounds jarring -- and the sudden appearance of U2's "New Year's Day" is -- but somehow it's a nice, smooth brew. (Scott Mervis)

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FAITH EVANS

"A Faithful Christmas" (Capitol)

On her first venture into the holiday realm, the R&B diva sticks mostly to the traditional ballads, but can't help dabble in old school soul and hip-hop just a little.

"Soulful Christmas," a funk workout that samples James Brown and builds up to a rap, turns out to be one of the keepers from the record.

The two originals, "Happy Holiday" and "Christmas Wish" (the one song with a hip-hop beat) are wispy and forgettable. The ballads are just "eh." She gets through "This Christmas" nicely, but she's not going to make anyone forget Eartha Kitt on "Santa Baby" and her voice seems strained under the "Mistletoe and Holly."

"O Come All Ye Faithful" is just regrettable, with its busy, modern arrangement and bothersome dripping sound. (Scott Mervis)

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REGIS PHILBIN

"Christmas Album" (Hollywood)

Why? Why would you want to listen to Regis sing when you could listen to, well, anybody else?

When I hear that voice on these Christmas tunes, I keep expecting him to say "Is that your final answer" and that just breaks the holiday mood.

This isn't bad enough to be a camp classic (Regis isn't awful), but it's also not good enough to spend any time with. (Scott Mervis)

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KENNY G

"The Greatest Holiday Classics" (Arista)

Many artists reach the "Best of" plateau, but how many have the broad appeal to release a package of their greatest Christmas hits? With three holiday records behind him, alto sax pop star Kenny G has issued a collection of 11 previous tracks and five new. Longtime fans will scarcely notice the fresh material (including "Jingle Bell Rock" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas") -- it's all one long, mellow ride. But newcomers should pass on the artist's previous holiday releases and go with this compilation.

Among the well-worn tunes on the disc are "Let It Snow," "White Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" -- Kenny G numbers we've all heard on radio, at the dentist or in the mall. The tones are rich, the pace is easy -- an audio antidote to the holiday hustle. (Tom Waseleski)

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THE LEEVEES

"Hanukkah Rocks" (Reprise)

Like Adam Sandler and Barenaked Ladies, the LeeVees saw the big wide void out there for Hanukkah songs and obliged with "Hanukkah Rocks," a record that might not rival Irving Berlin for holiday resplendence, but is certainly worth a smile for members of the "tribe" this time of year.

The whole family can rally round the stereo for food-oriented songs like "Latke Clan," "Kugel" and "Applesauce vs. Sour Cream," about one of the toughest choices Jews make during the Festival of Lights.

With a nod to the Maccabees, the LeeVees -- Adam Gardner of Guster and Dave Schneider of The Zambonis -- wrote this set of humorous rockers in eight days, and you could swear it took them nine.

"Goyim Friends," a synth-pop tune, laments the extravagance of Christmas gifts and feast compared to the six pack of socks and Chinese takeout the Jews end up with. "Gelt Melts" is a Ramones take-off about those messy chocolate coins. "Jewish Girls (At the Matzoh Ball)" is a love story set to a variation of The Who's "Happy Jack."

The highlight has to be the Elvis Costello and the Attractions-inspired "How Do you Spell Channukkahh," a song that suggests you could stump the spelling bee champs on ESPN2 with the name of the Jews' December holiday. (Scott Mervis)

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VARIOUS ARTISTS

"Orchard Hill Christmas"

What's impressive about this CD is that it's live, all the performances taking place at actual worship services. Of course Dan Shields, worship leader at the Franklin Park mega-church, recruits some of the very best musicians around, vocalists Maureen Budway and the New York Voices' Kim Nazarian among others.

Saxophonist Curtis Johnson leads on alto on smooth-jazzer Dave Koz's arrangement of "Winter Wonderland." Vocalist Joe Feick recalls Chicago's Bill Champlin on "Children Go Where I Send Thee" and "Go, Tell It on the Mountain," the latter of which features Shields on slide guitar. Lori Thee wraps herself around a dramatic rendition of Amy Grant's "Breath of Heaven."

I especially enjoyed pianist Rick Gallagher's straight-ahead jazz trio treatment of "The Little Drummer Boy," with bassist Tom Bellin adding a line from "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to his solo and drummer Rick Dickerson driving things along. The CD concludes with the fiery "Young Messiah" version of the "Hallelujah Chorus."

My trouble with holiday recordings, of course, is that by design very little new music comes from them. "Welcome to My World," written by Christian artist Chris Rice and featuring Budway; and "O Messiah" were the only selections I had never heard before. (Rick Nowlin)

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COUNTRY

BILLY DEAN

"The Christ" (Curb)

Some artists who've "made it" give thanks to the ultimate producer with the offering of their own celebrity Christmas albums. Country songwriter Billy Dean has been doing good work, including writing Lonestar's hit "Let Them Be Little," but hasn't quite made it over the popularity hump. So while he's waiting for fame to happen, Dean wrote a scene right out of the Gospel of Matthew and surrounded it with nine well-produced and spiritually themed holiday songs.

Co-written by Dean and co-producer Ray Barnette, the song "The Christ," subtitled "A Song for Joseph," is a musical Nativity scene. The angelic voice of Dolly Parton shines in a powerful "Silent Night" duet. Dean's Christmas CD is less twangy than some country holiday discs, but that's not the problem. Dean and Barnette begin most of the songs on "The Christ" with a single acoustic guitar, build momentum with additional voices and instruments, and begin the fade at about three minutes. Several songs into the CD, it all starts sounding the same. Some 60 years into the Christmas album tradition, Dean doesn't add anything that wasn't already said long ago. (John Hayes)

"Christmas Angels" (EMI)

EMI's Tennessee division, Capitol Records Nashville, commissioned this Christmas collection by some of country's best lady singers. Several have the talent and class to turn in fun new tunes. Alison Krauss and her brother, bassist and composer Viktor Krauss, offer "Shimmy Down the Chimney," a jazzy-pop original that frees Alison from the contemporary acoustic groove. Deana Carter sidesteps country with "Boogie Woogie Santa," which rocks like a Brian Setzer scorcher, while Suzy Boggus stays within her genre, going all fiddley and honky-tonky on the "Two Step 'Round the Christmas Tree." Traditional holiday songs get predictable treatment by Tanya Tucker, Amber Dotson, Jamie O'Neal, Jennifer Hanson, Cyndi Thomson, Bethany Dillon and Nichole Nordeman. (John Hayes)

"Country Christmas" (Music of Your Life)

HH

By now, thousands of Christmas songs have been recorded over the decades by popular stars. Companies cherry-pick from among them, set up licensing agreements and reissue those songs on an endless succession of Christmas compilations albums. The MOR and pop standards radio network Music of Your Life proudly boasts six new holiday collections culled in that way ranging in style from mainstream country to soul to pre-rock pop.

One of those collections, "Country Christmas," collects 28 previously released country songs in a two-disc package. Willie Nelson is all over it, noodling his six nylon strings and whining away on "Away in the Manger," "The First Noel," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "Joy to the World" and his original "Pretty Paper." Glen Campbell's "Little Drummer Boy" is back, as are Brenda Lee's "O Come, All Ye Faithful," Bobby Vee's "Good King Wenceslas" and Larry Gatlin's "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." (John Hayes)

"Christmas in the Country" (CMG)

Is there a Christmas song that Willie Nelson hasn't recorded? Here he is again, picking predictably and adding a new verse to justify a writer's credit on "Jingle Bells." "Christmas in the Country" picks out crossover cuts from the early '60s to the mid-'90s. If "traditional" means no surprises, this one is as safe as they get. Tammy Wynette added nothing that hadn't been done many times before when she released a very plain "Joy to the World" in 1970. Nevertheless, it's back. Same applies to Jim Reeves' "O Little Town of Bethlehem," Burl Ives' "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and Tanya Tucker on a John Denver arrangement of "Away in the Manger." (John Hayes)

"Norman Rockwell Winter Wonderland" (St. Clair)

Even the company that licenses the visual art of Norman Rockwell is getting in on the lucrative Christmas-song licensing business. What classic country-western has to do with Rockwell's Americana images is anybody's guess, and you have to wonder what an artist as original as Rockwell might think about rehashing old recordings under his signature. Not only have all of these songs been released before, but six of the 15 -- Tom T. Hall's "O Christmas Tree," Crystal Gayle's "Hallelujah," Lee Greenwood's "What Child Is This," Willie Nelson's "The First Noel" and Glenn Campbell's "Little Drummer Boy" -- appear on other country Christmas collections released this year. Who's keeping track of these songs, anyway? (John Hayes)

"Country Christmas Thomas Kinkade" (Madacy)

Popular painter Thomas Kinkade slapped his name on the cover of this CD without performing on a single song. His input? A print of his landscape "Cobblestone Christmas" doubles as the cover art and removable, mailable Christmas postcard. Inside, it's more of what we've heard this year ad nauseam. This one includes 32 rehashed holiday songs by country stars, everything from Willie Nelson -- again -- to Gene Autry, Charlie Pride, Tammy Wynette and Marty Robbins. Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas" is a good song no matter how many collections it appears on, and Joe Diffie's "LeRoy the Redneck Reindeer" twangs like a Jeff Foxworthy joke in a snow globe. (John Hayes)

CLASSICAL

IL DIVO

"The Christmas Collection" (Columbia)

This operatic "boy band," created by "American Idol's" Simon Cowell, consists of four heartthrobs from the United States, Spain, France and Switzerland who sing "popera" with impeccable pitch and full vibrato.

In "The Christmas Collection" -- or as Il Divo pronounces it, "Christ-mess" -- the music is Lawrence Welk meets the Backstreet Boys, with all the slurpy songs, from "Ave Maria" to "Panis Angelicus" to "The Lord's Prayer," in the same 4/4 moderato tempo. Each song has at least three climaxes, ranging from forte to fortissimo to blastissimo, frequently with a children's choir joining at a key moment.

I call this corny, but if it sounds appealing to you, give it an extra star and enjoy. (Jim Heinrich)

REVELS

"Rose & Thistle" (Revels Records)

One thing that most Christmas albums miss are swords and shields. Not so with the Revels. This fun-loving ensemble from Massachusetts specializes in English and Scottish music, as well as music of the Middle Ages. In this collection the traditional carols are all tinged with that more pungent medieval tone, whether it be the instruments or the more nasal singing. But even more intriguing are the tunes you may not have heard before: "Blessed be that Maid Marie," "Carol of the Twelve Days" or "Sweet was the Song the Virgin Sang." And then there's "The Buffens," a 16th-century "sword song" where the beat is kept by a synchronized sword fight. Add more energy to your Yuletide with this spunky disc. (Andrew Druckenbrod)

HANDEL, "THE MESSIAH"

Concentus Musicus Wien (Harnoncourt)

Deutsche Harmonia Mundi

If you don't own a "Messiah," you are in luck. Rather than get into prolix debates about which are the best of all time, suffice it to say that the eminent early-music conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt has poured his collected knowledge into this recording of the work he last recorded two decades ago (on Elektra). Working with Concentus Musicus Wien, the Arnold Schoenberg Choir and four excellent soloists (Christine Schafer, Anna Larsson, Michael Schade and Gerald Finley) this disc captures every sentiment of the great oratorio.

These soloists all have their moments, but it is the chorus that stands out, from sensitive singing in "For unto us a Child is born" the chiaroscuro beauty of "Glory to God in the Highest" to a haunting treatment of "Behold the Lamb of God") the animated singing is first-rate. Harnoncourt instilled how the words inform the proper phrasing. And, the soft timbre employed in the "Hallelujah Chorus" is nothing like the strident stuff you typically hear. This is breathtaking singing.

The disc also is adorned with fascinating facsimiles of source material, including a letter by Handel and his testament. Most interesting addition is a diagram by Harnoncourt analyzing the structure of "Messiah." It gives insight into the oratorio and his brilliant reading of it. (Andrew Druckenbrod)

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CHOIR OF KING'S COLLEGE

"On Christmas Day" (EMI)

You know King's College Choir for its traditional performances of the "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" celebrated since 1918 in Cambridge. But you might not know that each year, director Stephen Cleobury has commissioned a new carol by a contemporary composer. This double disc brings them all together. The problem is, most don't add much to the group we already have. Most of the composers -- Harrison Birtwistle, James MacMillan, Nicholas Maw, Stephen Paulus and Peter Sculthorpe among them -- tried too hard to fit into the context of this formal Anglican service and their offerings simply have little melodic interest. Four stood out, thought, led by a brilliant, touching carol by Thomas Ad?s ("Fayrfax Carol"): Peter Maxwell Davies' "One Star, at Last," Judith Weir's "Illuminare, Jerusalem" and John Woolrich's "Spring in Winter." The choir, as usual, sings with a delectable inner warmth. (Andrew Druckenbrod)

MASQUES

"Noel baroque" (Analekta)

No holiday is complete in my mind without baroque music. With instrumental carols by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Michel-Richard Delalande and others, this proficient group from Montreal can more than supply us this season with buoyant playing. Also included is a Christmas cantata by Alessandro Scarlatti and some traditional works for voice (including a touching folk tune "Christmas Day is come!"), sung wih verve by soprano Catherine Webster. (Andrew Druckenbrod)

Other new holiday choices:

Anita Baker, "Christmas Fantasy" (Blue Note/EMI): On her first Christmas album, the smooth R&B/jazz singer is joined by the likes of Joe Sample, George Duke, James Gadson and Barry Eastmond for holiday classics like "O Come, All Ye Faithful" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

Steven Curtis Chapman, "All I Really Want for Christmas" (EMI/Sparrow Records): Features an emotional title track about adoption and a duet with Vince Gill on "Christmas Is All in the Heart."

Tony Orlando & Dawn, "A Christmas Reunion": Their first recording in 28 years finds Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson offering jazzy and R&B lite versions of holiday classics and three originals, including "Christmas in New York."

Ricky Skaggs and Relatives, "A Skaggs Family Christmas Volume One": The Skaggs family is joined by the White family for traditional bluegrass Christmas with mandolin, dulcimer, accordion, banjo and penny whistle.

Michael McDonald, "Through the Many Winters" (Hallmark): The former Doobie Brother is the featured artist this year on the Hallmark Cards holiday CD, which consists of 10 songs, including a title track written by McDonald and wife Amy Holland.

"Nick Holiday" (Nick Records/Sony BMG): Nick characters sing "Spin Dreidel Spin" (from "Blue's Room"), "The First Noel" ("All Grown Up") "Feliz Navidad" ("Dora the Explorer") and more.

Various Artists, "Christmas Angels" (EMI/Capitol): Features female singers from the country and Christian scenes, including Suzy Boguss, Deana Carter and Tanya Tucker.

Various Artists, "Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure 2005" (Rock-It Science Records): The seventh annual disc raises money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS with holiday music from the casts of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "Spamalot" and others.

Various artists, "The Taste of Christmas" (Warcon): A head-bangers holiday ball, this 18-song compilation, recorded during this summer's Warped Tour, features the likes of Skindred, Funeral for a Friend, the Used and Bleed the Dream. The Used's Bert McCracken also covers John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)."

Jane Monheit, "The Season" (Epic): The album from the young jazz star ranges from the Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling" and the 19th-century song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" to perennial favorites likes "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

Aaron Neville, "Christmas Prayer" (EMI Gospel): The New Orleans legend mixes traditional songs with an original and songs by Curtis Mayfield and Charles Brown. The Blind Boys of Alabama join him on "Go Tell It on the Mountain."